Falling short

My name is Liz— I manage the main office at JVP here in Oakland, so you don’t normally hear from me. But I’m writing because I’ve been crunching the numbers for 2018, and it pains me to say— we’re behind. To fully fund the important fights we face next year, we need your help to close this crucial shortfall. Give now, before midnight on the 31st, and every dollar will be doubled.

2017 has been a tough year on all fronts, but it helps me to focus on the concrete steps I know we can take to pull ourselves out of all the messes we’re in.

That’s why 2018 is so important. Because out of the despair this year has brought, there are huge opportunities we need to seize:

Trump’s Jerusalem declaration is a terrible move— but it’s also opened a window of opportunity to force the U.S. out of its self-appointed position of peace-broker.

American Jews are coming around: Everything happening in the American Jewish community now shows that this coming generation will be the ones to break decisively for justice— and to uphold a new vision of Judaism that centers equality for Palestinians.

The first Palestinian human rights legislation is making its way through Congress. And every single cosponsor we can persuade makes a difference to the political calculations of every other elected official in the country.

These are fundamental shifts, not one-time campaigns. If we can seize all these opportunities, we can truly reshape the political landscape.

But if we can't close the gap by December 31, we’re going to have to make tough decisions about what to take on.

We can make the most of your gift before December 31st, because every dollar you give will be instantly doubled. And, with the implementation of Trump’s new tax bill coming down the pike, deductions for charitable donations may be more limited in 2018.1

I wish everyone could see as much of JVP as I do. So many of your names, stories, and ideas for how to make the world a better place cross my desk every day. And I get to see those same gifts transform into the nitty-gritty of campaign work, inspiring face-to-face gatherings, and exciting opportunities to shift popular discourse.

That alchemy only works because we stretch each donation as far as possible. We know you feel the need for monumental political change just as urgently as we do. So our small team is extremely careful with every dollar— out of gratitude for your generosity, and to generate the biggest impact possible.